Int J Stomatol

Int J Stomatol ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (6): 955-959.doi: 10.7518/gjkq.2026603

• Education • Previous Articles    

Education trajectory and training programs for American oral and maxillofacial surgeons

Xu Cheng1(),Bing Shi1,Wei Guo2()   

  1. 1.State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
    2.Washington Jaw and Facial Surgery, Bellevue, WA 98004, USA
  • Received:2025-04-15 Revised:2026-01-19 Online:2026-11-01 Published:2026-10-29
  • Contact: Wei Guo E-mail:chengxk10727002@163.com;weiguo1212@gmail.com

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Abstract:

The education trajectory for American oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMS) includes undergraduate stu-dies, doctor of dental surgery (DDS) degree, and OMS residency, totaling 12-14 years of training. The OMS residency can be either a single DDS degree or a dual degree of DDS and medical doctor, depending on different training programs. OMS training involves theoretical training and operative training, which can be further classified into anesthesia, dentoalveolar surgery, dental implants, surgical correction of maxillofacial skeletal deformities and orthognathic surgery, maxillofacial trauma, tumor surgery, cleft and craniofacial surgery, temporomandibular joint diseases, and cosmetic surgery. The core competitiveness of American OMS arises from standardized assessments and continuous education under the regulation of Commission on Dental Accreditation and the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. This article discusses the training system of OMS in the United States, focusing on entry requirements, training trajectories, training content, and quality control systems, which may serve as references for the training of OMS in China.

Key words: stomatology, medical education, oral and maxillofacial surgery, standardized training for residents

CLC Number: 

  • G4

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